Thursday, July 21, 2005

At one Haditha home that the Marines commandeered, a dog handler instructed his German Shepherd, who usually sniffs out explosives, to sit on the head of a resting Marine. That sparked roars of laughter and approval as the startled target tried to scramble away from the obedient dog.

Other Marines pack boulders in their friends' backpacks before patrols, then try to suppress laughs as they watch their buddies struggle with the extra weight -- as if Marines weren't laden enough with body armor, weapons, ammunition and other gear.